Emergency draft-coupling



C. C. RICH.

EMERGENCY DRAFT COUPLING.

.APPLICATION FILED MAYH. x920.

1,357,652, Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. RICH, OF CBANSTON, RHODE ISLAND.

EMERGENCY DRAFT-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Application filed May 17, 1920. Serial No. 381,854.

To oZZ whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES G. Then, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cranston, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Emergency Draft-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in an emergency draft coupling and more especially to improvements on the draft bar construction described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,292,- 881 granted to me on January 28, 1919.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a single coupling or one adapted to be mounted on one car for use in conjunction with the usual draw bar of the adjacent car.

The invention broadly consists of one sec tion only of my former construction and to the free outer end of this section is attached a novel fitting equipped with means both for holding the car a spaced distance from the adjacent car and also for connecting directly to the ordinary draw bar of the adjacent ear.

Further, the invention resides in the features of construction and the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the present invention as employed in the coupling of two cars;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

F 3 is a perspective view of the combined coupler and spacer; and

Fig. 1 is a similar view of a detail enibodied in the present invention.

In my former construction, two substantially similar draft bars 1 were coupled together for connecting two cars which had their draw bars incapable of functioning under the circumstances of use. each bar 1 consisting of a long body having one end deflected or offset downwardly and formed with a seat 2 to receive the central pivot common to most freight car constructions Where it is securely retained by the gate or closure 3 that is pivoted at one end to the seat and has its other end detachably connected thereto.

In the present invention, only one draft bar 1 is employed, the same having its straight, outer end apertured to receive a bolt 1 that is passed through one arm 5 of a Y-shaped member 6 and also the embracing sleeve 7 The arm 5 hasits outer end deflected parallel with the bar 1, the deflected portion. being substantially equal in length to the sleeve 7 through which the bolt 4 passes adjacent its outer end. This construction affords a strong, rigid joint having a long bearing contact. The opposite arm 8 of Y-mernber 6 diverges upwardly and has its extreme end deflected parallel to the sleeve-inclosed portion of arm 5 and pivotally connected to the hunter fitting 9 to afford a firm purchase on the car sill. The stem or shank 10 of the Y-member extends forwardly to enter the ordinary draw bar 11 with which it is adapted to be coupled by the usual pin 12 inserted through an opening in said shank.

.This construction is especially designed for use when one draw bar is disabled. The Y-member serves both as a spacer through arm 8 and shank 10, and has a coupler or draft bar, through arm 5 and said shank, the long bearing sleeve providing a firm joint with the emergency draft bar 1. It is exceedingly simple, durable and practical, being capable of rapid disassemblage and assemblage and is therefore especially adapted for the train crews kit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An emergency draft coupling consisting of a draft bar adapted to connect at one end to the pivot pin of a freight car, a Y-shaped member having one arm deflected to seat on the opposite end of the bar, a sleeve embracing the overlapped portions of the arm and bar, and a hunter fitting pivoted to the other arm, the shank of said Y-member being receivable within the ordinary draw bar of a car and formed with an aperture to receive the coupling pin,

2. An emergency draft coupling consisting of a draft bar adapted to connect at one end to the pivot pin of a freight car, a Y-shaped member having one arm deflected to seat on the opposite end of the bar, a Sleeve embracing the overlapped portions of the arm and bar, the shank of the Y-shaped member being adapted for connection to the ordinary draw bar of a car, and the other arm bearing against the car to serve as a sustaining 10 spacer between two cars.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. C. RICH.

Witnesses: V

r E. P. TooMEY,

J. A. MILLER. 

